LLANGEINWEN (LLAN-GEINWEN), a parish, composed of an Upper and a Lower division, in the union of CARNARVON, hundred of
MENAI, county of ANGLESEY, NORTH iVALES, 3 miles (N. W. by W.) from Carnarvon; containing 943 inhabitants. This parish,
which is of considerable extent, derives its name from the dedication of its church to St. Ceinwen, a female who was
distinguished for the sanctity of her life, about the middle of the fifth century. It is pleasantly situated on the shore
of the Menai strait, which is here a mile in breadth, and opposite to the town of Carnarvon, to which there is a ferry
from this place, called Titl-y-Voel, and from which a road passes through the parish to join the Holyhead mail-road, and
another from the same place runs by the church to the ancient town of Newborough. Llangeinwen has the parishes of
Llanvair-y-Cwmmwd, Llangafo' and Llanidan on the north and north-east, that of Newborough on the north-west and west, and
the Menai strait on the . east and south; and comprises, according to a recent survey, 3519 acres, of which 2500 are
arable, 416 meadow and pasture, and 603 common and woodland, the latter bearing a very small proportion to the former. The
surface is varied, being in some parts composed of hills of considerable elevation, and the surrounding scenery is finely
diversified.  The higher grounds afford interesting views, reaching over the adjacent country, and embracing the Menai
strait, the bay of Carnarvon, and the Snowdon range of mountains, from the great Orme's Head to the extreme point of
Lleyn, 1n Carnarvonshire; the lower lands, through which the Braint river runs into the strait, are wet and marshy, but
in the other parts the soil is a deep rich loam, well adapted for grain and pasture, and produces good wheat and barley.
The parish contains the seat of Maes-y-Portle, the residence of the Lloyd family, long settled in this place; Telgwynedd,
a handsome mansion recently erected by the Rev. R. R. Hughes; and Menaivron, a neat and commodious mansion in the
Elizabethan style, built about six years since: the only villages are those of Dwyrain and Groeslon Grin. The district
abounds with limestone of excellent quality, of which extensive quarries are worked at Quirt, Gelliniog-Wen, RhSrdy-Gaer,
and Penrhyn Bich, affording employment to a considerable number of men: the produce is partly burnt into manure for the
supply of the neighbourhood, and great quantities are exported by the Menai to different places on the coast. The living
is a rectory, not in charge, with the perpetual curacy of Llangafo annexed, and in the patronage of Mrs. Hughes; net
income, £664: the tithes of the parish have been commuted for a rent-charge of £540, and those of Llangafo for £205. The
church,, dedicated to St. Ceinwen, was originally built about the close of the sixth century, and, having fallen into
decay, was rebuilt in the year 1812, and enlarged in 1839 by the addition of a cross building, and a handsome tower,
containing a vestry-room on the ground-floor and a gallery above, by which the total number of sittings, including 187 for
free use, was increased to 310: at the time of the enlargement, the old edifice, which measures 54 feet by 15, was
thoroughly repaired, and stone window-dressings inserted in the early English style, to correspond with the new portion of
the building. There are places of worship for Independents, and Calvinistic Methodists. In 1836 the present incumbent
built at his own expense a schoolroom, and house for a master, in the former of which from 60 to 80 children are taught
daily on Dr. Bell's system, and almost entirely at the cost of the rector: there is also a Sunday school attended by
about 100 persons, and 160 are gratuitously instructed in Sunday schools belonging to the Methodists, collections being
made for the purchase of books. The amount of several charitable bequests to the poor of the parish in money and land, on
which latter a rent-charge of £3, by Ellen Owen, was appropriated to apprenticing a poor boy, is annually distributed at
Christmas, according to the wishes of the respective donors; but nearly half of the money-benefactions have been lost by
the insolvency of parties to whom different sums were lent. An allotment of two or three acres was awarded to the parish
about twenty years since on the inclosure of the common lands, on which fifteen cottages were erected for paupers. At
Quirt are the remains of a chapel, for many years used as a stable, and now converted into a dairy. Previously to its
application to its present use, the figures of the apostles painted on the walls were remaining, and over the east window
are still preserved allegorical figures of Time and Death. Near the boundary of the parish is a rude upright stone, with
the inscription NUM VLR1CI. EREXIT. HVNC. LAPIDEM., supposed to be a monument to the memory of some chieftain interred
beneath it. In the quarries at Gelliniog Wen great numbers of human bones are frequently found, which are thought to be
the remains of native inhabitants who at some period fell at this place in defending their country against the Danes.